Film Review: The Greatest Showman

Film Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2

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If you loved Guardians of the Galaxy, you will definitely love the second volume!

Film Review: Split

Film Review: Gods of Egypt

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After watching the trailer for Gods of Egypt, I thought it looked like an epic film that I really needed to watch. The film follows the battle between two powerful Gods, Set and Horus, for the throne of Egypt.

Film Review: Zootopia

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Film Review: Daddy's Home

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So, when I first saw the advert for Daddy's home I thought to myself "now that's a film I'd like to watch" because I think it looked very funny, and also because Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg star in it. So, that can't be a bad combination, right?

Film review: The Lady In The Van

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Film Review: Deadpool

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Film Review: The Transporter Refueled

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The Transporter Refueled (2015) is the fourth film in The Transporter film franchise and it is the first one without Jason Statham playing lead role as Frank Martin. Instead, we have Ed Skrein playing the lead role, and I was quite surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this film because it must have been hard for Skrein knowing he had to fill the shoes of the previous actor.

So, the plot of this film follows Frank as he ends up escorting four young women around as they are looking for revenge against their former employer, a sinister Russian kingpin. Frank takes the contract from former prostitute Anna, who along with her accomplices, steals from a bank and kidnaps Frank Senior in order for him to comply with carrying on with their mission for revenge. During the film, Anna and her accomplices begin to rob the friends of the Russian Kingpin, Karasov, in order to frame his friends against him. And of course, throughout there are scenes of epic fighting as you'd expect from a Transporter film.

I tried to watch this film without comparing Skrein to Statham because I know I love Statham in The Transporter films and it would be unfair to completely write the film off because of this. However, Skrein seemed to have the rough British accent down, and as I was watching it I almost forgot there are previous Transporter films. So, with this in mind I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and when asked what I thought about it afterwards I seemed to keep saying "it's not bad, actually". So, if you are a little unsure of watching it because Statham isn't in it, like I was, then I'd say to give it a chance and you'll probably be surprised!

I would rate this film 7 out of 10. Have you seen this film yet, and what did you think?

Film Review: Southpaw

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Southpaw (2015) stars Jake Gyllenhaal in the leading role as a light heavyweight boxer Billy Hope. After losing his wife (Rachel McAdams) Billy turns to retired boxer and trainer Tick Wills (Forest Whitaker) to turn his life around and get his young daughter back from child protection services.

Billy's wife Maureen accidentally gets shot following a brawl with a new up-and-coming boxer named Miguel Escobar. After this, Billy goes on a downward spiral abusing alcohol and drugs, and then his young daughter Leila is taken away from him and put into child protection services. Upon this incident, Billy decides to turn his life around and get his daughter back, and seeks help in the form of Tick who later begins to train him. Finally, Billy has the chance to fight Miguel for the chance to win the light heavyweight title, in which he succeeds, and then is reunited with Leila after the match.

It is well and truly an emotionally-fueled film, as we follow Billy's ups and downs after the death of his wife, and losing his daughter to child protection services. I did not expect myself to feel so emotional as I watched it, and it only led me to "believe in Hope" even more as I wanted him to get his life back on track. The tagline for this film is certainly well suited! Also, the film has an excellent soundtrack, executive produced by Eminem, and features some real adrenaline pumping tracks whilst we see some fantastic boxing scenes.

I would certainly recommend a watch to anyone, and would rate this film 8 out of 10.
I was surprised by this film because I actually really enjoyed it! Have you seen this film yet, and what did you think?

The films I'm excited for in 2016 - Part 1

Hey guys!

I have decided to split my "films I'm excited for in 2016" post into a quarterly series that I will do throughout the year because there are just so many films coming out in 2016, and you would probably forget by the time it gets to that date. So, this post will be about the films coming out in 2016 from January to March, and I must note that of course there are many films coming out this year, but these are just the ones that I am personally excited for. So here goes...

My Favourite Christmas Films!

What I love most of all about Christmas is getting to watch lots of Christmas films all snuggled under a blanket nice and cosy because they always have a happy ending. So, I thought I would create a list of my favourite Christmas films to share with you all, and so maybe you can watch them if you haven't already!

Film Review: Victor Frankenstein (2015)

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The new film Victor Frankenstein re-tells the story of an old classic about a radical scientist (Frankenstein) and his surgeon partner (Igor) who ultimately create a monster as a result of experimenting between life and death.
I thought the film followed the story of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein very well, but I feel as though every re-telling of the story will be the same for every film, because you can't dramatically change any events from a classic story book. So, I left the cinema feeling like this was just an average film and did not have a lot to say about it really because if you know the story of Frankenstein, then this film is pretty much going to be the same story line.

Also, I was not quite so sure about Daniel Radcliffe's acting as Igor Strausman, as I just found it strange to see him play this sort of character and could not make my mind up whether I liked it or not. However, I did think James McAvoy played Victor Frankenstein quite well, and he even had me giggling at some of his insane and radical moments that is typical of his character.

Next, the special effects of this film were really good, and even quite gruesome especially in regards to the experiments that the partners were performing in order to create their monster in the end. In my opinion, this film is a good modern day re-telling of the classic book with up-to-date special effects, but did not really have the 'wow' factor. However, my opinion cold be a little harsh as I have already mentioned you can't really do a lot more if you're re-telling the same story as others have done before.

I know that there are many mixed reviews about this film, but I do not think it was that bad so I will rate this film 6.5 out of 10.

Have you seen this film yet, and what did you think?

Film Review: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part Two

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First of all, I haven't read the books to this series (although I really wish I did before I watched any of the films), but I have been a fan since The Hunger Games films franchise began.
I was so excited to watch 'part two' of Mockingjay, especially after how the first part ended. But, I must admit I was left a little disappointed when I left the cinema because I thought there was going to be more of a 'BANG' when it ended, but it seemed to reflect a fairy tale, as in it was too "happily ever after" for my liking, but I am aware that is entirely my opinion.

However, I am also glad that I could see how the rest of Mockingjay unfolded, and what was going to happen to the rest of the characters, and it answered some of my questions such as; was Peeta going to be alright? What will happen to Snow? What was Katniss going to do?

The special effects and graphics were great (I didn't expect any less) and I was given a fright by some awful looking monsters in the film - I was not expecting that. As I mentioned, normally I would have liked to have read the books first so I could also compare them to the film, so I am a little sorry I cannot do that in this case. Nevertheless, I liked the film and I thought it was pretty good, but I suppose my expectations got the better of me, and the year-long wait must have left me a little disappointed when I finally got to see it. Also, I could add that I was a little tired and watched it on a later showing, so that could also be my reasoning for how I felt when I left the cinema.

All in all, it was a good film, especially a good and happy ending to such a huge film franchise. I would rate this film 7 out of 10.

Have you seen Mockingjay Part Two yet, and what did you think?

The Walking Dead: Season 6, Episode 5 Review

I was full of relief to see Rick running back through the gates into the community, but still left wondering how he escaped from the approaching walkers from the woods, so I suppose he may have just ran given how exhausted he was when finally got back. However, no one else has returned to the Alexandria yet, but I still have hope that Glenn is alive somewhere, and somehow.

Also, I thought it was brave of Aaron to tell the Alexandrians that the Wolves possibly found the community because of his lost backpack, as I was wondering whether or not he would tell them. But, during this episode I felt mostly for Maggie because Glenn has not yet returned and she hasn't received a sign to know if he is alive. I really do hope he is alive because I love his character, but mostly because Maggie has announced she is pregnant. I must admit that I was actually a bit frightened by the zombies that were lurking in the sewer, because they were fully decomposed, and just awful looking.

In this episode, I began to like Deana's character a lot more, and I really like that she told Rick the community needs him as their leader because I agree with this decision., and have been thinking it myself for a while. Deana did manage to snap out of her daze, as she proved when she killed the missing walker (a turned Wolf) with the help of Rick. However, I think her son Spencer is going to cause a lot more problems, because his recent reckless actions are already causing damage. So, I wonder what more is in store.

Finally, the end of the episode reached another climax, in which I am left more than excited for next week's episode once again. As Deana bangs back on the wall, and you see the blood dripping down a crack after she has walked away, you just know the community are going to encounter more drama pretty soon.
I think this week's episode was a lot more relaxed than the previous few, but it is building more anticipation for the future episodes.

Have you seen this week's episode yet, and what did you think?

Film Review: Man Up

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Man Up was never on my list of films to watch, and to be honest I don't remember seeing any trailers for this film that was released back in April this year. However, after someone suggesting that I watch this film I thought to myself 'why not?' and began to watch it whilst snuggled under a blanket on Sunday afternoon.

As the film tagline suggests, it is a story about two people, Jack (Simon Pegg) and Nancy (Lake Bell) who meet for a blind date, but Jack mistakes Nancy for the girl he is actually suppose to meet called Jessica. Jack is a 40-year-old who is about to be divorced, and Nancy is a single 34-year-old just looking for love. The film follows their first date, and how they get along so well, but Nancy can't hide the fact that she isn't Jessica for much longer. After a series of hilarious shenanigans, Jack finally finds out the truth and not all goes to plan as Jack returns to meet Jessica because he is convinced she could be the love of his life, ignoring the fact how well himself and Nancy have gotten along. Finally, an emotional Nancy returns to her parents 40th anniversary party with more hilarious scenes to follow before the pair are finally reunited after Jack realises what mistake he has made letting Nancy go.

I didn't really know what I was expecting before I watched this film, but I am glad I did because it such a funny romantic comedy. Also, it is not usually my kind of film but I couldn't help but laugh at the series of hilarious goings-on and I completely fell in love with Nancy's character because of her cynical and sassy behaviour. I would certainly recommend a watch to anyone, and I know you'll be laughing your socks off at many points during the film, as I was too. I would rate this film 7.5 out of 10. A surprisingly good film in my opinion.

Have you seen this film, and what are your views?

The Walking Dead: Season 6, Episode 4 Review

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When this episode started, I just knew it was going to tell Morgan's story and show us what he has been up to since before he reunited with Rick and the gang in the Alexandria community. I was really interested in learning how Morgan became so good at martial arts, and a lot less crazy than when Rick had seen him last. It was shocking to see Morgan kill everything and everyone in the beginning because he had to "clear" anything that got in his way. But when Morgan met Eastman, after hearing his goat Tabitha outside his cabin, I just knew that this was going to be the man who changes Morgan's point of view.

I found Eastman to be a very interesting character in the way he coped on his own in his cabin in the woods, but there was something about him I just couldn't put my finger on. Until the end that is. Upon hearing Eastman's story about losing his wife and children, you could see why he acted in the ways he did, but only until the end did I realise fully what he had been through. I think Eastman teaching Morgan the ways of Aikido (a form of martial arts), which it's goal is to "avoid killing, even the most evil person". And I must add that I have never before been so concerned about the welfare of a goat, so I was very happy to see Morgan save Tabitha from some walkers.

However, I knew something had to go wrong for Morgan to continue his journey, so was not so surprised when Eastman got bitten by a walker as he jumped in to save Morgan after he froze. Then when I saw Tabitha had too been eaten by a walker, I was a little more upset. Just before Eastman dies, he gives Morgan his rabbit foot, and I thought this was a great sentiment because you could see how Morgan had finally changed into the man he is now, with a lot more peace inside him.

At the end, we come back to the present where you see Morgan is telling the Wolf that he can be saved just like he was. But the Wolf doesn't seem so sure, as he says he may have to "kill everyone here". So, I wonder what will happen next, and I'm sure something exciting will happen when concerning the Wolf. Just before the credits, we see Morgan walk outside, and you can hear Rick screaming for the gates to be opened in the distance. I am so excited for the next episode because we finally get to see the aftermath of the Wolves raiding the Alexandria community, and who comes back from trying to lead the walkers away from the quarry. What another exciting episode, and once again I cannot wait to see what happens next.

So, have you seen this episode yet and what are your views?

The Walking Dead: Season 6, Episode 3 Review

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I was so excited to see the other perspective of last week's episode, and what the rest of the gang were going to do after they heard the truck horn blaring and leading half the zombie herd towards Alexandria. I found it even more exciting when the group decides to split up; Rick going back to the RV to lead the herd away from Alexandria, Michonne and others heading back to Alexandria through the woods, and finally when Glenn and Nicholas split up to further distract walkers by planning to set a building on fire.

The Alexandrians were always going to be weaker, and as Rick pointed out they "aren't all gonna make it" so it was inevitable that a few of them were going to be picked off by walkers. They slowed the group down, but I much agree with Rick telling Michonne to keep on moving because the priority was to get back to Alexandria. However, I was really angry when watching Nicholas freeze with fear because he was putting the others' lives at risk, and shooting himself near the end could potentially kill Glenn as well, so I was really annoyed about that. I am not sure if I think Glenn is dead just yet, I think the image we saw was more the walkers eating Nicholas' body on top of Glenn, at least I hope it was, so I am anxious to see what happens in the episode next week. What do you think?

And then to see the Wolves that Morgan let escape in the previous episode try to climb onto the RV and kill Rick was shocking. It just showed Morgan's potential mistake in letting them go, because they were using the guns they managed to pick up from the Alexandria community. However, Rick's immediate response by grabbing the machine gun and killing them all was fantastic, and I was shouting "yeah, come on, go Rick" (embarrassingly) at the TV. But as the breakaway herd of zombies emerges from the woods, and Rick can't get the RV's engine started I am literally on the edge of my seat. I know Rick's not going to sit there and let himself be a walker's feast, so I wonder what idea he will jump to next week. I hope the engine will start, or at least someone will come to help.

Also, I am glad to see Michonne, Heath and Scott arrive back outside the Alexandria community, but I wonder if they will face anything before they get back inside. And, I can't help but wonder what the rest of the community have to say when they get back. There are a lot of "what if" ideas going around inside my head, and I just cannot wait until next week's episode to see what everyone does. Mostly, I want to know if Glenn is actually alive, and if Rick can get away from the walkers emerging behind him.

In my opinion, this episode was just as exciting as the previous two, and already I feel a little impatient about having to wait a week to find out what happens next. Have you seen this episode yet and what did you think?

The Walking Dead: Season 6, Episode 2 Review

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Now, before this episode started I had my own ideas on what might happen, and as to who was sounding the horn which made the zombies split off from their route at the end of the previous episode, but episode two was nothing that I expected (in a really good way). And, I know I asked where was Carl in the first episode, but was glad to see him looking after Judith which was probably going to be the only logical answer to my question.

First of all, I absolutely love Carol's character, and in my opinion the way she dealt with the Wolves as they came intruding inside the Alexandrian's community and killing everyone in sight, was so bad-ass. Carol's conflict with Morgan over killing the Wolves was seen clear at the end when they walked down the street past each other without acknowledgement. I must admit that I agree with Carol in having that mentality because it is very much a 'kill or be killed' situation, and you're not just going to let someone hack your friends to death with a machete and walk away, right? However, I think we have yet to see a darker side to Carol because the scene where she saved her neighbour from a Wolf, but then put a knife in her head, was quite surprising as she didn't need to kill her. So I wonder what Carol will do next.

Also, I really like Morgan's character too, but I am really unsure as to whether I agree with his methods of stopping the Wolves by harming them, but not killing them. They would come back after all, right? And one of them even managed to grab a gun as Morgan told them to get out, so this just aids their revenge even more if they were to come back. I would like to see what Rick thinks of this when he gets back to the Alexandria community. And, at the end when Aaron finds his backpack on one of the dead Wolves and sees his photographs inside which probably led the Wolves to the community, I wonder if he will try to hide this in the next episodes.

I just knew that Enid would leave, and wonder how this will affect Carl and Ron in the episodes to come as well. I am not quite sure what the significance of 'JSS' was in this episode, so if anyone could shed some light on this I would appreciate it. Anyway, this episode took a turn that I was not expecting but was non-stop exciting and the wait until next week's episode is going to feel like forever. I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Have you seen episode two yet, and what did you think?

Film Review: Maze Runner The Scorch Trials

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I finally got round to watching the second installment of the Maze Runner trilogy, and I must admit The Scorch Trials was far from disappointing, so it was well worth the wait for me. There is exciting non-stop action throughout the entire film, and it even made me jump quite a lot which I was not expecting. I much agree with the movie tagline 'the maze was just the beginning'.

As Thomas and the gang escaped from yet again another institution that turned out to be under control of the mysterious 'WICKD' organisation, they soon found themselves in danger from virus-infected beings called 'cranks' as well as running for their lives from WICKD . However, it was the cranks that mostly made me jump, as they would appear out of the darkness from nowhere and run crazily after the gang. I felt myself hold my breath on so many occasions when the cranks were chasing everyone in fear of what might happen, and I must add that they were pretty scary looking too.

There is not really any dull or slow moments during this film, it is quite fast-paced and full of action, as Thomas and the gang head towards the mountains to find the 'Right Hand', a group of resistance fighters who could possible help them fight WICKD. Of course, along the way they are met with many obstacles, until they finally join forces with the Right Hand, but all is not that smooth in a twist of events at the end. It is safe to say I was not expecting what Theresa did at the end, and I was even a little shocked, but it only excites me further to see what happens in the final installment of the trilogy. If you enjoyed the first film, then I have no doubt that you will enjoy The Scorch Trials and would recommend a watch to anyone.
I would rate this film 4 out of 5.

Have you seen this film, and what do you think?